FIFA drops plan to sell World Cup stake after boycott threat

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FIFA has abandoned its controversial proposal to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup and other competitions to private investors following widespread opposition from football stakeholders and threats of a boycott by continental confederations.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced in a statement posted on his Instagram page on Saturday that the governing body would no longer pursue the proposal.

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He said it had become clear the initiative had created divisions within the football community.

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“The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed,” Infantino said.

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He explained that the proposal was always subject to consultation with FIFA member associations, the FIFA Council, confederations and other stakeholders.

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“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

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“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed,” he said.

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Infantino added that FIFA would engage stakeholders in the coming weeks to continue discussions on growing the game, particularly in countries that require greater support.

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The decision follows strong opposition from the Union of European Football Associations, which warned that its member associations would boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the proposal was approved.

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The Asian Football Confederation and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football also opposed the plan, backing UEFA’s position.

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FIFA had earlier defended the proposal, insisting that “nobody is selling football” and arguing that the initiative was intended to generate additional funding for member associations through a new commercial structure.

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PUNCH Online had earlier reported that former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick backed the proposal, urging critics to judge it on its merits rather than dismiss it outright.

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Pinnick, who serves as deputy chairperson of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, said Infantino had a track record of introducing reforms that benefited member associations.

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According to him, the proposal had the potential to increase financial support for national football associations, with each association potentially receiving up to $20 million in addition to funding under FIFA’s Forward Programme.

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The proposal, however, faced mounting criticism over concerns that private investment in the commercial rights of FIFA competitions could alter the governance and future direction of world football, prompting the governing body to withdraw the plan.

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